Don't Blame Bots, Fake News Is Spread by Humans

Explore the alarming spread of fake news and its impact on society, economy, and democracy in this thought-provoking TEDxCERN talk by Sinan Aral. Discover the results of extensive research conducted on social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter, revealing that false information spreads farther, faster, deeper, and more broadly than truth online. Learn why humans, not bots, are the primary culprits behind the dissemination of misinformation, and gain insights into how to discern fact from fiction in the digital age. Delve into the findings of the largest longitudinal study on false news spread on Twitter, published in Science, and understand the implications for public health, economy, and society at large. Gain valuable perspectives from Aral, a distinguished scientist, entrepreneur, and MIT professor, as he shares his expertise in IT economics, applied econometrics, and statistics to shed light on this critical issue facing our interconnected world.